New children's centre plans revealed
Plans for a new £500,000 children’s centre in Kingsway have been revealed.
The proposals, which have been submitted to planning officials, were shown to parents on Wednesday evening.
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Kingsway children's centre plans
If it gets the go-ahead, the new centre could be opened by the end of the year.
It will be built in the grounds of Kingsway Primary School, but without fences and boundaries, to encourage joint use of the space.
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Services at the new centre would be likely to include:
Antenatal and postnatal classes
Baby groups
Breast feeding support
Stay and play sessions
Adult learning classes and crèche
Community drop-in
Meeting rooms
Information point
Marge Morgan, family services manager for the centre, said: “We will be working with parents, the primary school and other agencies to begin developing the services we will be providing at the children’s centre.
“Until we get our own building, it is impossible to do that properly.
“At present we do run some limited facilities at the school, but we obviously want to get our own space.
“The whole team here is really excited about the plans going in, we can’t wait to get the centre up and running.”
Councillor Jackie Hall, county councillor for Quedgeley, said: “This is a much-needed facility for Kingsway, which currently has very little infrastructure in the village.
“At the moment families are travelling to Quedgeley and Tuffley for services, putting pressure on these facilities.”
Councillor Vic Rice, who also represents the area on the county council, added: “The Kingsway development will be some time in completion.
“Providing such facilities as the village grows will help support residents and encourage community spirit as well as relieving pressure on surrounding facilities.”
The proposed centre will open five days a week from 9am to 4pm, with the possibility of also opening during the evenings or on Saturdays.
The plans will now go to Gloucester City Council for approval on a date yet to be set.
9 Comments
by Stacey Shute, Kingsway
Tuesday, February 09 2010, 2:11PM
“This is great news for the area and will add to the feel good factor.”
by marshmallow, gloucester
Tuesday, February 09 2010, 12:26PM
“Shops? ... Cafe for parents and children why not?”
by Kingsway resident, Kingsway
Monday, February 08 2010, 11:43PM
“I think this is a really great idea and will benefit the community of Kingsway, a step in the right direction of the facilities that our village needs. I still cannot see where all the bad press comes from in Kingsway we bought our house 2 years ago and have never seen any problems or crime in the area. Just because people live in social housing does not mean that they are all scum bags!! 'Stan' living so close in Quedgeley maybe it would be nice if you supported your local area rather than continue with the 'chinese whispers' that seem to surround our village.”
by Gavin, Kingsway
Monday, February 08 2010, 11:25PM
“People are moving to Kingsway as the houses are the cheapest in the county. You can get a 3 bed with garage for £149,000. Buy one get one free at this rate? Local estate agents are advertising the place as 'Quedgeley' as saying 'Kingsway' apparantly puts people off. The 5 bed houses in Valley Gardens have dropped by £100k since built in 2007. Where did it all go wrong.”
by Stan, Quedgeley
Monday, February 08 2010, 6:52PM
“Make sure there are iron shutters at the windows and a good security system. It is becoming more like scumcville every day. I just feel sorry for the people that actually bought their properties as opposed to the benefit brigade who get theirs F.O.C. It should have been a nice little village had it not been overloaded with social housing.”
by Barry Kirby, Kingsway
Monday, February 08 2010, 5:31PM
“This is another great addition to Kingsway that proves that the Village is growing and becoming able to support the families that move there. The Youth Pod will soon also be installed. Couple these with the decision on the Health Provider coming next month, things are looking better. We just want our shops and other community assets to enable us to generate a true Village feel.”
by dinsdale, Gloucester
Monday, February 08 2010, 5:12PM
“Well as long as we got some nice meeting rooms and a creche, that well worth £5 million.”
by Patience, Kingsway
Monday, February 08 2010, 5:05PM
“I may get more excited when we get a shop or two...that area needs to come first.”
by Tim, Gloucestershire
Monday, February 08 2010, 4:48PM
“Maybe they are fixing the potholes?”